What Indian Pens Are You Using Today - 2025?

[K Singh]

5 hours ago, tommym said:

 

That green/yellow ripple ebonite (with its black specs) is my all-time favorite of all the ebonites in my collection! 

 

Tommy 

I wish it didn't have that many black spots(I have a Kim Jumbo in that ebonite). The color looks nice otherwise.

 

I like the solid black colour ebonite the most, and I pretty much have all my favourite pens in black ebonite, except for Ratnamson Supreme I guess.

[arun.upb]

8 hours ago, tommym said:

 

That green/yellow ripple ebonite (with its black specs) is my all-time favorite of all the ebonites in my collection! 

 

Tommy 

I remember this pen having a lesser number of black spots when I purchased it (a year ago maybe)  You are right, it looks great!

[tommym]

9 hours ago, K Singh said:

I wish it didn't have that many black spots(I have a Kim Jumbo in that ebonite). The color looks nice otherwise.

 

I like the solid black colour ebonite the most, and I pretty much have all my favourite pens in black ebonite, except for Ratnamson Supreme I guess.

 

My friend from India (in his late 70s now) won't budge on his two old and decrepit black ebonite eyedroppers with their press fit nibs and ebonite feeds. It's black ebonite for him or nothing. It's only because of him that I added a few black ebonite fountain pens (from India) to my Indian fountain pen collection. I'm so glad I did, because the black ebonite makes the other colored ebonites (some kind of subdued in color) really pop!

 

Tommy 

[tommym]

5 hours ago, arun.upb said:

I remember this pen having a lesser number of black spots when I purchased it (a year ago maybe)  You are right, it looks great!

 

Hopefully, the black specs on my pens will increase too!

 

 

Tommy

[K Singh]

1 hour ago, tommym said:

 

My friend from India (in his late 70s now) won't budge on his two old and decrepit black ebonite eyedroppers with their press fit nibs and ebonite feeds. It's black ebonite for him or nothing. It's only because of him that I added a few black ebonite fountain pens (from India) to my Indian fountain pen collection. I'm so glad I did, because the black ebonite makes the other colored ebonites (some kind of subdued in color) really pop!

 

Tommy 

I can relate with your friend ☺️ But I do like other colours as well. Out of my 39 Indian handmade pens, 16 are black. 

[arun.upb]

14 hours ago, K Singh said:

Out of my 39 Indian handmade pens, 16 are black. 

A couple of years back, I got black ebonite pens that were terribly pitted. The quality seems to be better again now, I got a a black Jumbo from PLP that is just beautiful and weighty, without pits.

[K Singh]

5 hours ago, arun.upb said:

A couple of years back, I got black ebonite pens that were terribly pitted. The quality seems to be better again now, I got a a black Jumbo from PLP that is just beautiful and weighty, without pits.

Yes, the pits happen sometimes. Nothing we can do about it. I don't care much about it, but I've seen few enthusiasts return their pens over one or two pits. Don't know what to say about that.

[bugsydog55]

A small pit or two is one thing but several could be a problem.  That would mean that there was air in the mixture as the ebonite was being formed.  Something may not have gone quite right.  I seem to have noticed more of these pits in my matte finish pens since there isn't any polish to fill the smaller pits.  As for color, I am astounded by the color selections of ebonite available now.  Has this always been this way or have I been missing something over the last decade?  Personally, lighter color ebonite is not my choice, but I can understand how it might appeal to some pen users.  I do find some of the mixed swirl combinations mysterious enough to have purchased several.  An attempt to mimic acrylic in ebonite is only going to work so well but I love the way these things look and feel.  Then there is a pink ebonite.  Have mercy.  Different things for different people.  Varieties for various folks so we can all enjoy the experience.

[K Singh]

11 minutes ago, bugsydog55 said:

A small pit or two is one thing but several could be a problem.  That would mean that there was air in the mixture as the ebonite was being formed.  Something may not have gone quite right.  I seem to have noticed more of these pits in my matte finish pens since there isn't any polish to fill the smaller pits.  As for color, I am astounded by the color selections of ebonite available now.  Has this always been this way or have I been missing something over the last decade?  Personally, lighter color ebonite is not my choice, but I can understand how it might appeal to some pen users.  I do find some of the mixed swirl combinations mysterious enough to have purchased several.  An attempt to mimic acrylic in ebonite is only going to work so well but I love the way these things look and feel.  Then there is a pink ebonite.  Have mercy.  Different things for different people.  Varieties for various folks so we can all enjoy the experience.

Some penmakers discard the piece if there are too many pits. Sometimes they sell it at discounted price and tell the buyer beforehand about it(ex: Guider).

 

I myself have never got any such pen which had too many pits 🤷 

 

The ebonite maker who supplies ebonite rods to all these Indian penmakers, does keep coming up with new colours/patterns as well. Just today he shared some pics along with new prices for his rods, in a WhatsApp group.

[bugsydog55]

I have been fortunate enough to acquire several of the Ranga Premium ebonite pens in those multicolor swirls.  They may not work for everyone but I find them endlessly fascinating.  I do find myself lost with the lighter colors which seem "unnatural" because my head won't see that connection between hard rubber=light color as a possibility.  That's why I am not in the business because I do not know anything about it.  I do appreciate the end result.  I also appreciate being able to communicate with all of you. Being located in the middle of the US, other than the people I meet here, I do not know a single person that interested in these beautiful pens that you are discussing.  I am glad that you have given me a moment of your time.

[K Singh]

2 hours ago, bugsydog55 said:

I have been fortunate enough to acquire several of the Ranga Premium ebonite pens in those multicolor swirls.  They may not work for everyone but I find them endlessly fascinating.  I do find myself lost with the lighter colors which seem "unnatural" because my head won't see that connection between hard rubber=light color as a possibility.  That's why I am not in the business because I do not know anything about it.  I do appreciate the end result.  I also appreciate being able to communicate with all of you. Being located in the middle of the US, other than the people I meet here, I do not know a single person that interested in these beautiful pens that you are discussing.  I am glad that you have given me a moment of your time.

FPN is a boon to anyone who is interested in these Indian handmade pens 🙂 I owe a lot to it and to everyone who shares their knowledge freely here.

 

There are various Indian pen groups on FB/Telegram/WhatsApp as well where we discuss Indian pens. But it can get quite overwhelming at times in going through various groups, and these groups often go off-topic in comparison to our FPN.

[hari317]

On 5/6/2025 at 8:11 PM, bugsydog55 said:

A small pit or two is one thing but several could be a problem.  That would mean that there was air in the mixture as the ebonite was being formed.  Something may not have gone quite right.  I seem to have noticed more of these pits in my matte finish pens since there isn't any polish to fill the smaller pits.  As for color, I am astounded by the color selections of ebonite available now.  Has this always been this way or have I been missing something over the last decade?  Personally, lighter color ebonite is not my choice, but I can understand how it might appeal to some pen users.  I do find some of the mixed swirl combinations mysterious enough to have purchased several.  An attempt to mimic acrylic in ebonite is only going to work so well but I love the way these things look and feel.  Then there is a pink ebonite.  Have mercy.  Different things for different people.  Varieties for various folks so we can all enjoy the experience.

Usually the pits are caused due to trapped inclusions that break free during the final polishing stage, leaving behind a pit.

Matte finish was developed by the local pen makers in an attempt to cover up the pits which would be too evident on a polished pen. So yeah, the good segments of the rod are made into polished pens. Some pen makers are very diligent and they discard pitted portions of the rod and they use only the good portions. Of course this means their input costs are much higher. 

[bugsydog55]

Good information to know and greatly appreciated.  The material is difficult to explain to people that have no background in fountain pens.  My friends never know what will come out of my shirt pocket.  Of all the pens I have used in front of them and let them handle or check out, it is the ebonite that have them at a loss.

[K Singh]

Currently inked: Kim ACR Big/Krishna Lyrebird

 

The pen came with an amazing buttersmooth nib grind by Dr. Sreekumar and the body has transparent lacquer over it. Another beautiful pen and a beautiful writer.

 

 

[Meghdut]

A guider regular sized eyedropper with guider fine nib. 

[arun.upb]

8 hours ago, K Singh said:

Currently inked: Kim ACR Big/Krishna Lyrebird

 

The pen came with an amazing buttersmooth nib grind by Dr. Sreekumar and the body has transparent lacquer over it. Another beautiful pen and a beautiful writer.

 

 

Excellent choice! Is that the ambitious m nib?

[arun.upb]

8 hours ago, Meghdut said:

A guider regular sized eyedropper with guider fine nib. 

With the prasad feed?

[tommym]

10 hours ago, K Singh said:

Currently inked: Kim ACR Big/Krishna Lyrebird

 

The pen came with an amazing buttersmooth nib grind by Dr. Sreekumar and the body has transparent lacquer over it. Another beautiful pen and a beautiful writer.

 

 

 

I like that pen and the artwork on that book cover, too!

 

Tommy

[K Singh]

5 hours ago, arun.upb said:

Excellent choice! Is that the ambitious m nib?

Thanks. Yes Sir, it's Ambitious medium nib.

 

4 hours ago, tommym said:

 

I like that pen and the artwork on that book cover, too!

Thanks. I like them both too 🙂 

[Meghdut]

8 hours ago, arun.upb said:

With the prasad feed?

Hi @arun.upb Yes! How do you know? 🙂

 

I have been wondering why it has Prasad feed and the story behind it.